Table



out 151;1946.

c; F. KELLEY TABLE l Filed May lo, 1945 2 sheets-smet 1 I* l 4 l Ost. l5, 1946'. c. F. KELLEY TABLE Filed naif 1o, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet V2 fnvezov?" Y C'czrZe T-alge @p mi;

Patented Oct.'15, 1946 `ori-'ICE TABLE l charles F. Kelley, chicago, nl.

Application May 10, 1943,\Serial No. 486,311

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a table and particularly to a table of `a type suitable for use in bed. It has for one object to provide a table which is strong and simple in construction which may be made entirely oi wood and which can be positioned over a bed and supported upon the bed structure itself.

Another object is to provide a table of the type indicated, so arranged V that many such tables can be stacked or nested together.

Another object is to provide a table of the type indicated which can be readily put in place over and upon a bed while the bed is occupied, and which will be readily retained in place upon the bed either by latching means or by the bed spring or mattress itself.

A still further object is to provide a bed tab-le so arranged that it can be supported upon the structural members of the bed rather than upon the iloor.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claim.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the table;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail taken on` an enlarged scale at line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric projection of the table shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of table; and

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the table shown in Figure 6.

Like parts are indicated by like characters .throughout the Specification and the drawings.

I is the top of a table. 2 is a iixed leg secured to the table top. A member 3 may, if desired, be added to strengthen the joint. fi isan attaching member iiXed to the table top, and the joint may be strengthened by a member 5, if desired. It will be noticed, particularly in Figure 4, that the lower edge of the member 4 is inclined or beveled, as at Bf Attached by hinges 'I or otherwise to the member 4 is a second leg 8.

The tables of the two forms are identical up to the point so far described. Each table is provided with means for engaging a rail or other structural part of the bed. In the form of the table shown in the first five figures, a flange or shell-like member 9 is secured adjacent the lower edge of the leg 2 and the leg 8; This iiange may rest upon the bedrail Ill or some other structural part of the bed. As shown, a spring I I may be secured to the rails I0, and a mattress I2 may loe positionedon `the spring. The flange or shelf members rest upon the rails lil or upon the upper surface of the spring II and extend somewhat beneath tlie mattress I2, provided one is present.

As a means for holding the movable leg 8 in place, a latch assembly is provided. This includes a member I3, secured as shown in Figures l.J 2, 3 and 5, to the inner surface of the movable leg 8, The member I3 is provided with a cavity or cut away portion i4. A movable latch member I5 is hinged, as at I6, to the bottom of the table portion I. As shown, the latch member I5 may be reduced in size adjacent its lower end and provided With a nose I1, which in the latching position extends into the cut away portion I4 of the member I3. When the latch is in the position shown in the gures, it prevents swinging of the movable leg 8 and holds it in the full line position of Figure 1.

In the modified form of Figure 6, the table leg, instead of carrying flange or shelf-like members 9, is provided with portions TIS and I9 adjacent the lower ends of each of the legs 2 and 8. The members I8 and I9 form, together with the lower edges of the legs 12 and 8, trough-like members which fit over and engage the bed rails 20 or corresponding structural members of the bed.V

The particular forms shown in Figures 6 and 7 are adapted primarily for use with a bed in which the spring and mattress are positioned above the rails. As shown, therefore, in those figures, a spring 2| is positioned above the rails Z and may carry a mattress 22.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

When the tables are not in use, the movable legs are swung to the dotted line position of Figures 1 and 6, and then the tables may be piled, stacked, or fnested together, the top portion of each table iitting beneath and against the folded, movable leg 8 of the table adjacent it. When the tables are to be put into use, they are separated one from the other and placed in position over the bed. If the form of Figure 1 is to be used, the table is placed over a bed, the left-hand flange 9 engaging the rail Ill or upper surface of the spring Il, and the movable leg 8 being moved to the outer or right-hand dotted line position. This permits the table to clear the bed and mattress. When that has been done, the movable leg is moved to the full line position of Figure 1 and the latch means is moved so that the latch engages the member I3, and the table is held in place. Under certain conditions the latch mechanism may be omitted, and the mattress itself will hold the table in place.

When the form of Figure 6 is to be used, substantially the same steps are taken in putting it into place. The left-hand leg 2 is moved to the position of Figure 6, and its trough-like member ts over and engages the bed. railA at that side. The right-hand leg is swung to the outer or right-hand dotted line section, and the table may thus be placed over the bed. When the left-handV leg is in position on the rail, the right-hand legy 1s moved so that its trough engages the righthand bed rail. Although a latch mechanism might be used with the form of Figures 6 and '7, it is ordinarily not needed, rst, because the trough-like construction itself rmly engages the bed rails, and second, because ordinarily the mattress 22, under the weight-0f an occupant will expand suciently to exert a pressure on the table legs and to force them against the bed rails so that even without` a latching mechanism the table will ordinarily remain in place.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will be recognized that many changes in the form, shape, and arrangement of parts can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and my showing is therefore to be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic. In particular, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular material. It can be made all of wood or it can be made of any other desirable material. Although the table is shown as engaging the bed rails, it can, of course, be held in place by engaging any other structural part of the bed, and the invention is not limited in its use, therefore, to the specic engagement of parts of the table with bed rails vor with any specic structural member of a bed.

I claim:

In combination in a table adapted for use with and to be supported upon a bed, members defining a table surface member, and a leg xed thereto, a downwardly projecting support xed on the opposite end of said surface member, and a movable leg movably supported from said surface member by said support, and bed rail engaging members mounted one on each of said legs and adapted to engage a bed, the width of said b-ed rail engaging members being approximately the same as the length of the said support, whereby when the movable leg is folded against the table surface member. it is substantially parallel therewith.

CHARLES F. KELLEY. 

